Mox Boarding House

Game store · Ballard

Mox Boarding House

Game store · Ballard

2

5105 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

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Mox Boarding House by Mox Boarding House
Mox Boarding House by Mox Boarding House
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null
Mox Boarding House by null

Highlights

Games store & cafe with extensive board game library and bar  

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5105 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 Get directions

moxboardinghouse.com

$$ · Menu

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5105 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 Get directions

+1 206 523 9605
moxboardinghouse.com
MoxBoardingHouseSeattle
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@MoxBoarding

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 18, 2025

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@infatuation

The 21 Most Fun Dinner Spots In Seattle

"There may be no local restaurant or bar that nerds out as hard as Mox Boarding House in Ballard. It’s part tabletop gaming store, part event space, and part dining room where you’ll find players rolling 20-sided dice with conviction or smearing potato chip-greased fingers over Catan resource cards. Serious gamers can rent private rooms by the hour for intense sessions, but you can walk into the restaurant area with a group and settle into a spacious booth to talk over your Magic: The Gathering strategy (or borrow a game from Mox’s library). While the menu has nothing imaginative, there are enough decent, shareable appetizers—like the juicy albondigas—and a robust beer and cocktail list to fuel a night of role-playing as a half-orc warlock with a penchant for cuddling baby dragons." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente

https://www.theinfatuation.com/seattle/guides/exciting-new-seattle-restaurants-right-now
View Postcard for Mox Boarding House Seattle
@infatuation

Mox Boarding House - Review - Ballard - Seattle - The Infatuation

"There may be no local restaurant or bar that nerds out as hard as Mox Boarding House in Ballard. It’s part tabletop gaming store, part event space, and part dining room where you’ll find players rolling 20-sided dice with conviction or smearing potato chip-greased fingers over Catan resource cards. Serious gamers can rent private rooms by the hour for intense sessions, but you can walk into the restaurant area with a group and settle into a spacious booth to talk over your Magic: The Gathering strategy (or borrow a game from Mox’s library). While the menu has nothing imaginative, there are enough decent, shareable appetizers—like the juicy albondigas—and a robust beer and cocktail list to fuel a night of role-playing as a half-orc warlock with a penchant for cuddling baby dragons." - Gabe Guarente

https://www.theinfatuation.com/seattle/reviews/mox-boarding-house
View Postcard for Mox Boarding House Seattle

Travis Fischer

Google
It took me a few years to finally get out here, but it was worth the wait. This store was super cool, great finishes throughout, very organized, and a wonderful open feel. The staff was very helpful and friendly helping me grab a few singles and tons of older sealed packs for my collection. As one store owner to another, well done and I can’t wait to come back!

Annu Priya

Google
Mox is a fantastic spot to hang out with friends and enjoy a wide variety of board games. They offer an impressive selection, along with a dedicated tournament room for competitive play. You can also grab some snacks to munch on while gaming. It’s a great place for both friends and families to come together and have fun. I especially loved the broccoli cheddar soup, and dishes like tater tots and pasta are definitely worth trying!

Ashley Krischel

Google
Do you want to visit Card Kingdom? Yes, the website that allows you to buy singles from the games that you enjoy... well, here you go! Card Kingdom is the parent company of Mox Boarding House. Everyone who works there is super nice and very inclusive. There's even a bar on site! Looking for singles? Log on to one of the two computers that they have available and place your order. Board games, card games, warhammer, and more! This is a nerds paradise. 😉 While you're there, be sure to get a board game and go have a bite to eat! They're mac and cheese is to die for!

Joseph Wheeler

Google
Just occurred to me after one of many awesome interactions to leave a review- all employees go above and beyond to be positive and helpful and I've never seen such a big selection of games. Haven't tried their food but based on the smells I'm jealous of anyone who has. One of my favorite atmospheres for event nights, for sure my #1 game shop.

International Traveling Clown

Google
Lots of fun board games! We saw they had Heroes of Barcadia, and that is such a fun party game! For all ages! Juice for kids, "fancy" juice for adults! Loved the Magic The Gathering lantern. Very fun and beautiful. Fun place overall.

Ryan McLean

Google
Best boardgame store I've been to. Awesome game selection. Friendly staff. The food and drinks looked great, but we didn't try that. Loved that they have a game library to borrow from.

Bob Ponce

Google
Love this place! I play magic there and they always have events and great prices on cards. It’s also in a nice neighborhood for getting food unless you want to eat at the cafe. I’ve only eaten there a few times but it was good. I am just starting to get into warhammer so I may be there even more now. I have also purchased other board games and puzzles from there. Highly recommend. My only complaint is that it’s always busy but that’s because it’s a great place to go.

CARMEN THUNDER

Google
My son is new to the world of Pokémon so I try to take him to extra fun places to buy cards. This was definitely fun. Huge store with lots of space and tons of tables. There is even a beautiful restaurant connected to it.
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Yuri Y.

Yelp
This is genuinely one of my favorite spots in Seattle because there's a mix of board games, community and food! There is everything from a tournament room to a family/children's section so I feel like it's very versatile and the games are free to rent. The food is also worth checking out because you might end up spending way longer here than you expect. I tried the pretzels for $14 and overall it was worth it. They have some other things. I would like to try like mac & cheese and tater tots but it is a really nice ambience and the employees are genuinely so friendly and give great suggestions. Unfortunately, my only con is that parking is so hard to find, because the spots in front and access to the buildings all are always filled.
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Tom H.

Yelp
Pros: Awesome to be able to try new board games with food and drinks. Staff are always nice and don't rush you at all. Good beer selection. Cons: Limited food menu. Wish there were more options.
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Susan S.

Yelp
BF suggested this place for games. We played Mancala, had some beer and wine for $9 each, ordered a Reuben sandwich ($19) and Pork Bratwurst with sweet potatoes hash ($17). Portions were not too bad (forgot to take pics since we were hungry). They have games for sale but also games to check out and play. Fun place to have a date night to play games.
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Kait D.

Yelp
I'm so disappointed that the cheesecake they served came without the fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries that were advertised on the menu. The berries were the whole reason I ordered the cheesecake and I think it was messed up for Mox to serve it to me without telling me first that they didn't have the fresh fruit to go with it. If I had known they were out of the fruit, I wouldn't have ordered the cheesecake in the first place. To make matters worse the server wasn't even apologetic until I specifically asked about the missing fruit. The cheesecake cost more than everything else I ordered put together so it was frustrating to receive something that I didn't even want to eat. Thankfully the other people sitting at my table enjoyed the cheesecake because I didn't take more than one bite. I ordered the side Caesar salad and appreciated that there was a small portion offered on the menu. I loved my iced oat milk mocha. It was creamy and tasted deliciously flavourful. The staff at the front were really nice and my friends and I had a great time trying out new games and hanging out. I wish Mox served french fries, I was really craving them and wish they were on the menu.
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Vivien L.

Yelp
5 stars for the unique experience and 3 for food. My group of 5 came in on a Sunday afternoon and waited 10 minutes to be seated. The food menu is odd and all over the place with no theme. There's Vietnamese, Thai, and Mediterranean all in one menu. My group and I ordered soft pretzels & queso and vegetable & hummus plate to snack on as we played games. The shareables we ordered were alright and I wouldn't come back solely for the food. The vibes are fun with all the game options! We played 2 games over a ~75-90 minute period. Few places like these exist, and I will be back for the games and vibes. Food here is just a plus.
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Natalia M.

Yelp
FUN FIND !! My husband + I had our date night here + WE LOVED IT ! We loved the game options you can play while dining, we loved the music playing, we loved the crowed, the venue was clean + well lit, and the staff was kind + attentive! Great selection of food + beers/wines. ( I would love if they had a couple specialty cocktails :p) This will definitely be a go to spot for us ! The selection of games is expansive - games galore aka board game heaven . The venue feels like a more inclusive space. The dining area where you can dine + play games felt in someway intimate + romantic even though the venue was full (it did not feel like it was as full as it really was ) . As for me, I want to actually spend time here as opposed to many geeky spaces that can feel a bit dank, dark, +musty. Out of all the Seattle board game shops/café I have visited, this is the best by a long shot. Highly recommended for a date night, night out with friends or with family !
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Kealia P.

Yelp
The food is so mid, but I guess that isn't why you come here! Very large game selection, and the store is well stocked! Maybe only get like sharables like pretzels and drinks to support them while playing, but I wouldn't recommend the entrees too much! This place is def worth a visit though!
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Jerry H.

Yelp
Great customer service for the shopping experience. As someone who has to make a return, it was fast and easy, too. I'll always check this guys out when I'm in town.
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Mary B.

Yelp
I love this place but HATE THE FOOD. I'm elderly so I normally I'm okay with goey food that tastes like nothing but this takes it to another level. What is the theme? Where is the seasoning? What are the options? Is like an expensive Applebees but with no flavor. I would come here play some games get some drinks but avoid the food.
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Raeann P.

Yelp
Whoever came up with the idea of a board game cafe/bar/hangout is a genius. Mox has leveled up the concept by creating an absolutely lovely environment to hang out, drink coffee, eat food, and try games. I've been to a few of these bars before, and I've got to hand it to Mox - they surpassed my previous experiences and expectations! If you love games, head to your nearest Mox and check it out! The food options all sounded good, though we just had tea while we played - a LOVELY Sunday afternoon! (Game recs: Wingspan Asia and Barenpark) Extra park - if you bought something at the restaurant and then stayed to play a game, they offer 15% off whatever game you played! Very cool bonus.
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Jessica Q.

Yelp
They have a great selection of board games and plenty of tables to play games. In comparison, Mox feels more competitive and less welcoming compared to Zulu's. I get a sense that most workers are just there to work and don't particularly enjoy small talk. There is food available, which we didn't get to try, and a sit-down area to enjoy it. The bathrooms are located on the right side of the restaurant portion. You may need a code depending on when you visit.
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Marcus S.

Yelp
Looking for some board or card game fun with some friends? Looking for that perfect gift for that board or card game friend or family member? Ready to let out a geek shriek with the sheer number of games here? Mox can do all that for you! We came to partake in some board games and the front end staff were very helpful giving options, suggestions and brief how to play info for games to play. They have the open boxes right at their counter, free to check out! We played a few rounds of different games returning them each time. I've not had food from here but there is a menu of food options as well as drinks to have while playing. There is plenty of space, with tables of varying sizes, including outdoor seating to sit and play at depending on the size of your party. You can even sell cards here. The guy is a bit shrewd but I guess that comes with the territory I suppose and it really is a cool offering they have, exclusive to this particular Mox. Whether you're looking to buy or just try out some games, this is a really good place to do that. Be it regulars or first timers. The staff are welcoming and I'd recommend it for friendly activity.
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Quinn V.

Yelp
A very impressive games store. I've never seen one so well organized and well done. Usually, they're are just thrown together haphazardly in a large room
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Jack B.

Yelp
It's a board-gaming, magic, and war-gaming grail store; has been for years! Food varies depending on season but it's above average. Rent a room for a catered birthday DnD session, sit in the restaurant and borrow a game to play, try Friday night magic if you have never, or throw some dice and plastic soldiers down on the war tables while ordering drinks! Prices are good, some things are below MSRP which is nice for those of us gamers on a budget!
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Phillip T.

Yelp
I love this place. It's perfect for dates; the staff are so knowledgeable and cool; the idea is just fun! I tell literally everyone about this place and that they need to tracks to Seattle to hang here.
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Laura V.

Yelp
An unexpected experience for a non gamer, that was positive. Showed up here today, battling traffic at rush hour. Our Singapore friend specifically asked to come here, to get some gaming cards no one else offered. So, I thought this was a restaurant with a few board games. As I walked in, wow, this is a total experience. Rooms dedicated to playing games. Tables of people playing games. A whole store, full of games and merchandise. A case full of fancy dice and even dice earrings. Gaming asserories, gloves, clothes . Recognized how wrong I was, with the wide variety of everything a gamer could want. At the risk of sounding like an nongamer, what incredible variety and dedication to games. this place offers. My Singapore friend wanted specific cards, so she needed to go online at their computers to access cards. My friend and I went to the bar to hang out. A lovely variety of drinks were offered, we went with the non alcoholic lemonade. Helpful staff. Lots of snack type food and many different kinds of beer. This place was packed, not a lot of places to sit. One of the very few restaurants I have ever been to, where people played games while they ate. There was a reader board outside, listing the game events for the day and times. They had quite a few games, approximately five different game events. There was a Pokémon event while we were there. The Mox staff had one room for this event and a moderator to help run the games. Our Singapore friend was very happy with her overall experience. If you like to play games, this certainly is a great place to come. If you are lonely, you can come here and find a really unique and large place to be welcomed.
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Erika S.

Yelp
This is like a nerd's heaven. Board games, Dungeons and Dragons, all that nerdy stuff. They even have a "pub". They have a variety of board games, they will probably have whatever you are looking for. They have magic cards, areas to play, paint your little figures. You know, nerd stuff. We didn't get actually food, but just a charcuterie plate. They had Italian soda's but the soda machine was broken. It's just seltzer water with syrup and cream, but oh well. Service was alright. Even though I'm not a gamer, I thought this place was pretty neat. I'd love to take my friend there.
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Racheal R.

Yelp
Found this place online while planning my visit to Seattle. It looked unique so had to check it out. The Cafe is attached to a board game store. While you eat you can check out board games and play at your table. We didn't play any games but enjoyed the food. Customer service was good and the food was delicious.
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Lawrence L.

Yelp
Mox is the place you go for your gaming needs and wants. You can find the gamut of RPGs, card and turn-by-turn games, miniatures, and even previously played ones. There are places to paint miniatures, tournament tables, and much more. For gaming, this is your place and geek heaven. There is a dining area in the style you might find in your standard adventure game. That's where it fails. Running a retail operation is different than running a restaurant. Casual fair, with lots of veg options, drinks, and snacks. You are welcome to bring your own games or they will provide them. The food was lackluster, and my falafel was soggy at best. Everything costs extra. Service is tricky. While they want you to stay game and eat, the wait staff becomes impatient if you do not do both continuously. It makes the experience sub-par. If there were signs that said,"One drink per hour" or the like might help to relieve the expectations. Rating the parts of Mox separately would be more fair but that's not possible. Go for the gaming, avoid the dining.
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David S.

Yelp
After years of hearing about Mox Boarding House, I accidentally walked past it while visiting Seattle and I'm thrilled that I stopped in: this is a beautiful game store. Their curated selection of tabletop games is phenomenal. Their tournament facilities look fantastic, although I did not have time to shuffle up and play with anyone. And the food in the cafe was surprisingly great, and not just for a board game cafe. On my next trip I intend to visit for a Magic draft.
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Wai L.

Yelp
I love this place. Gives an instant sense of belonging. We got a table for 4 and played a tower defense board game. At least 6-8 beers on draft. Comfortable seating. No judgment. Great crowd
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Pratima M.

Yelp
A cute board game cafe -- it's half board game store and has a seating section too. The store half has an UNREAL selection of all the classic and a ton of new games! Everyone is bound to find something they'll enjoy. We came with a group of ~6 for the café to order some food and drinks and play some games. They had a decent selection of beers and ciders and the Brussel Sprouts were tasty and easy to share. I wish they'd had more games to check out while playing, though. A lot of the popular ones were taken and the suggestions were pretty complex to understand. That being said, I'd definitely come back with a smaller (and more patient) group and I could see this being a super fun time!

Ash N.

Yelp
Omg this place is so awesome! The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. It feels like such a down to earth, welcoming space. So many unique games to play and purchase! I wish they offered more of the new releases to play in store because they all look so fun, but nonetheless they have a wonderful variety of games to choose from ranging from easy to intense strategy. Staff make themselves available to guide you to games that will be a good fit based on your interests/group vibe and so far they have not missed. We need more places like this everywhere
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Richard P.

Yelp
Always super fun to stop by Mox Ballard when in the area lots of great stuff to browse staff is friendly and helpful!
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Angelica P.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I went in yesterday to grab a quick coffee while we waited around for an appointment near by, and walked up to the bar for service. The guy at the bar let us know that if we were sticking around for a bit then we could order there, otherwise we HAVE to order online from outside the restaurant. This isn't my first time stopping in for coffee like this and was never given those instructions previously, but thats fine. Maybe new rules? His attitude threw me off, but I figured we had a few minutes to kill so we can hang at the bar... guess I figured wrong. We ordered drinks, waited about 15 minutes for them, received one wrong drink, and waited about 5 minutes for a new one. By this point our "few minutes to kill" was almost over. I intentionally avoided speaking to the male bartender any further because his service was awful and his attitude was worse, so I waved down a waitress and asked if we could get some to go cups and our tab. She looked a little hesitant to assist but did anyway. Just after I paid, the male bartender came back up to us to huff and puff and arrogantly let us know to "next time order online from outside the restaurant if you don't intend on staying" and then ran back into the kitchen. Since this is such a serious offense, maybe put up signage that states the number of minutes you have to stay at the bar to avoid being barked at by the bartender. Could spare some headaches all around. All this to say, if you want an enjoyable experience in the restaurant, steer clear of the tall guy with red hair and beard. He's a buzzkill.
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Gail F.

Yelp
If board games are your thing, this is your next hangout spot. Highly recommend Mox Boarding House for your next group hang! Food: 4/5. I had the Prosciutto and Brie Panini (4.5/5) and a bite of the Mox Cheesesteak (4/5). Both were flavorful, but the bread-to-filling ratio was lower than I expected. Given the price, the toppings could have been more generous. Both paninis were expensive for the volume of food given. I'll stick with drinks for my next visit. Atmosphere: 5/5. Upon entry, I could tell that all of the patrons were consumed in their games and enjoying their experiences. I highly recommend going with a friend who's familiar with boardgames if you aren't familiar yourself or don't enjoy parsing through the rulebooks. One of my friends was able to teach the group the rules so that we could start playing competitively. Our group was quickly consumed by the competition, leading to jokes and laughter. The decor is also themed and worth taking a second to note - the hand painted wooden slats and varying textures across the restaurant gives the space a whimsical vibe. Overall: 5/5. I'll definitely be back with friends to have cocktails and play board games! This board game shop + restaurant + tournament space + event space is intriguing, even if you aren't to board games. It may even convince you to buy a board game or two.
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Crystal H.

Yelp
I absolutely love the concept of this place! It's a perfect place for dates and hanging out with friends. You get a table at the restaurant and once seated, you can go back to the game area and request a board game. There's a lot--from classic games like scrabble to more complex and modern board games. The food is okay. I wish there were more options. I had the cheesesteak sandwich and it wasn't what I imagined. I was hoping for a more traditional one. The tomato bisque felt more like marinara sauce. Their Brussels sprouts though, it was cooked very well and perfect dressing on top.
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Jenny S.

Yelp
Awesome place for board game fanatics! We went in thinking it was just a board game store but then noticed people playing games at the tables in the back. Upon asking the worker he recommended a game to us and said there was no charge (whattttt?!) We got to try out a game we had never heard of and had a good time I wish they had a place like this in LA. The restaurant/ bar area wasn't open when we came but I'm sure that would only elevate the experience
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Alan Z.

Yelp
I got the seasonal soup, it was potato and leek and was pretty good. Not too salty and not too thick. The service was also really good, as the waiter was really friendly and came around pretty often. The games here are also really fun so I would definitely recommended coming to visit.
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Jennifer L.

Yelp
How have I been here for so many years and never knew of this place??? There are hundreds of board games to choose from. Watch out, you might get stuck here for hours and hours just playing games with your friends. We ran through so much food and beer during that time. All board game rentals are free and if you're overwhelmed by the options, the staff are very well knowledged and can even help pick one out that suits your group! Coming back again (and again)!
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Deva S.

Yelp
Let's start with the good, I enjoyed my Tuna melt. It had a great taste to it and all in all was a solid showing. Not overly toasted, tuna tasted great, and whatever they did to give the melt some flavor was fine by me. The cost is for me one of the negatives. The melt was a bit on the pricey side (roughly $18). Another negative was overall portions for what the table ordered just felt small. The mac and cheese is just overpriced for how small it is, I feel I need to call that out. The mac and cheese is not a shareable and it wasn't ordered to be one either, it's just way too small even for one person is what I'm saying. Lots of game options and the servers were nice, no complaints there. My iced tea never got a refill and unfortunately they weren't good about getting water. But hey, that's how it goes sometimes, overall they were people just doing their best. Overall it's a nice place for some games and I'd give it another go. Just wouldn't go there hungry is all. Check it out if you're in the area!
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Gilbert B.

Yelp
Dirty dishes. (Ew! The kid who was told the glass was dirty inspected it like he didn't believe me for a length of time that was beyond outrageous and rude, then came back and handed me a glass upside down. ???) -Served a can of cider but no glass?! (Kid was shocked that I wanted a glass. He came to the table saying "cider in a can" ?What?) -The other drinks didn't arrive until after the food came (45 minutes of waiting). Take that in. The drinks didn't come until after the food arrived. There is no excuse for this. -Soups and appetizers didn't come until after the entrees. Yup. It's a theme...clearly the waiter doesn't give even half a damn... -Rude and defensive and obviously stoned waitstaff. "I've been here since 11:30 am "(it was 5pm). "We're short staffed" (there were more than 10 employees casually goofing and prancing around the whole time we were there) Who is running this place? The concept is good, the food is good, but, it isn't cheap and the waitstaff need to do better. Much better. No more excuses kids. This was our fifth disappointing visit to this restaurant over the last year. It took us a while, because we wanted to like it here. But, we have finally given up on this place.
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Sophia Y.

Yelp
Not a place I frequent often but I noticed a pretty big change in the food and drinks menu from years ago. Difficult to anticipate whether you'll get in on an evening that is busy as they say tables can stay for 5 minutes more or 3 hours. One od the server is extremely crotchety and it is not just one time occurrence they're experiencing an off day. Otherwise, rest of the servers are very friendly and attentive. There are nights where much of the drinks or food on the menu are unavailable so plan wisely.
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Kaitlin Y.

Yelp
We've been long-time fans of Mox, willing to make it out to Ballard during our college days at UW for some late-night board games. The sales team has always been great and informative, always recommending fun games perfect for what our group is looking for. However, over the past year and recent times we have visited, the wait staff in the restaurant portion have been rude and slow to help our table. Last time we went, the host was snappy for even asking about availability for our group, and this most recent time we went, we waited for over an hour and got through 2 board games without a server asking for our drinks or checking on how we were doing. I realize COVID or being under-staffed has a lot to do with the recent changes, but knowing how Mox used to be, it's very disappointing how one of our favorite spots has taken a turn. The saving grace for Mox is the unique experience you can get when it comes to trying out new board games, as well as the sales staff still being amazing and helpful. I would recommend the Bellevue location as it's much bigger and maybe more staffed, or coming with low expectations if you were to try the Ballard location.
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Annie C.

Yelp
This place is really fun! We booked a big room for a work event. Negotiating real estate between board games and actual plates of food is pretty hard, so we ate first and then started playing. Staff were all friendly and helpful but seemed a bit overloaded. They forgot the chicken on my salad and had to bring it separately. They have a dedicated parking lot, but it was full even on a weekday night. It's very popular.
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Muhammad H.

Yelp
Came here for dinner and the food was mediocre at best. The staff also completely ignored service to my friend's wife and her friends and did not even seat them for dinner even though they had a reservation. I don't know if it's because they wear the hijab that they were treated like this but in past experiences, Islamaphobic businesses do the same practices. I don't think my friends and I will be coming back here if this is how Muslims are treated, unfortunately.

Theresa L.

Yelp
This place is amazing! Wonderful staff. Cafe has delicious food and huge portions. Amazing family establishment. Nice to have a place in Seattle where no one is staring at their phones, and enjoying each others company. Can't recommend enough.

Arrielle S.

Yelp
Amazing board games but NOT dog friendly. This area of seattle is such a dog friendly place and Mox treated us horrible because we had a dog and asked to be sat on patio where dogs are allowed. No one was out there and when they sat us they told us to put our dog in the corner so they wouldn't trip over our dog which is understandable but no one else was on the patio so it was very hazard free of tripping. When asking for a patio table because of the dog they immediately told us we shouldn't have sat our selves, tried to explain that we never sat our selves, the dog and I were outside waiting to get a patio table since we knew inside was not dog friendly, the host then again told my partner we shouldn't have sat our selves because that's not how their service works, he reminded her that we DIDNT sit our selves, and we were just requesting to be sat outside because of the dog. We ended up leaving immediately after being sat when she told us to keep the dog in the corner even though the patio was completely empty. They might as well just say no dogs on patio either with the attitude given.
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Ginny C.

Yelp
This place is super cool even if you are not really into board games. The shop is huge and I had a fun time browsing each section. They have sooo many different games available at the front that can be used for free! The idea is what if you like it enough, you will purchase it for your own home. I played a game called Forbidden Island and players had to work together towards a goal and escape off the sinking island! It was surprisingly more fun than I expected. There is a kids section with cute plushies! I was so excited to find a Salior Moon game for purchase there. The place is next to Cafe Mox which serves food and can be purchased while you are playing games. This place was very cool and I would 100% recommend it.
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Priya C.

Yelp
This was the first time I was introduced to the concept of combining dining with board games and it was intriguing. We had a large group of 7 people some of whom were meeting for the first time. So this seemed like a good place to break the ice. And we weren't wrong there. Our initial experience wasn't so great, as it took a while to get us seated, our server seemed pretty rude. It being our first time we had plenty of questions but our server seemed to give expressions as though we were expected to know everything. Later on we realized the seating was getting congested and moved to a private larger room at per hour pricing. This turned out to be a good decision as we had more space, privacy and our server was changed. Much better experience! The food wasn't noteworthy, drinks selection was good if you like beer. In terms of games we ended up keeping it simple by playing uno!
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Cody b.

Yelp
I've been coming to Mox and dealing with CardKingdom (same businesses, CK does the cards) for 7 years. I am usually in the shop 1-2/week so I feel I can give a much more accurate review than most. So hopefully this helps! I'll start with the Cafe/Store review: Mox has its own free parking lot, which is very nice considering the neighborhood can be very hard to park in, although the parking lot is often full on any slightly busy days and the lot is kind of a risky place to park as it's tight and pretty easy to damage someone's vehicle. The store itself is very clean, well-lit, and has a great design. The only downside to the store honestly is the ventilation is kind of weak and the ceilings are kind of low so it can get a bit stuffy feeling if you're at a card event. Mox has a great selection of board games but the sealed product selection for card games in-store is a bit weak considering how integrated into the market they are. They have very little selection honestly and it's very inconveniently placed behind the staff at the front counter which not only makes it VERY hard to view but also you're standing in the way of customers and staff will ask if you need anything 15 times before you view all the product. Sealed product is often way overpriced for no reason. Digimon packs are priced way above typical retail, and boxes are usually double what they are anywhere else. I can pay $3.33/pack at Zulu and Mox charges me $4.99... for a game that's far cheaper than MTG which is priced at $4 and under typically. Staff is frequently highly opinionated. Staff often think of themselves over the customer and I frequently get sassy or arrogant responses. Like I get that most staff are introverts with potentially lower social skills, but trying to assert your dominance or project insecurities on me when I just ask a simple question is very rude. The cafe is decent. During the colder months, it is quite cozy and relaxing. During the hot months, it's best avoided during the day as the air conditioning is very poor in the cafe and will usually be very uncomfortable. As for the food and drink menu... it needs help badly. Mox has rotated through I don't even know how many menus and they cannot seem to figure out food to feed board/card gamers, which should honestly not be this hard since other shops can do it easily. Mox cafe constantly tries to pretend it's some upscale dinner spot and charges roughly $20/plate + $10-15/app + $15+ cocktails but what you're getting is a chicken salad wrap and a splash of soup. If Mox could figure out what it IS and stop trying to be what it's NOT then they'd be more successful. I'm not paying upwards of $80+ for 2 people to eat basic sandwiches/wraps or chips and dip when I can spend that same amount at an actual upscale restaurant right in the same neighborhood. Like I get they need to earn money, but if you charged less and gave more snack options I'd probably end up ordering way more because the value matched the cost. Is the food good though? Yes, it's fine but expect to be not happy with the bill. For the CardKingdom side: Cards are on average 20%+ higher priced than any online marketplace. Sometimes they're literally double price. Makes me rarely buy cards now. Card grading has significantly gone downhill. I now pretty much always get cards (foils) from CK that are by their own standards, more worn than what I purchased them at. That on top of them being higher priced is a big miss. I'm not quite sure the logic on how they super nitpick anything you sell to them, quickly downgrading the grading, but then sell you scuffed-up foils as Near Mint. I don't want to make any unproven accusations but that is very sus. I don't want to be only negative though. CK does pay pretty well on cards that have little to no value. If you have a bunch of bulk cards laying around, chances are they're paying a bit of money on it and that is probably the main reason I continue to sell to them. Despite this mostly negative review and low rating, I do still have faith they can turn this around. They just need to hire new management to breath life into the areas of improvement.
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Jennifer T.

Yelp
I highly recommend this place to play board games! Staff was very friendly and didn't even require us to buy anything. They also recommended new games for us to try! My best friend bought a herbal tea though. We came after dinner already and didn't realize it has a restaurant here. A lot of tables, chairs, and very spacious to play board games inside the restaurant/bar or near where the board games they are selling were displayed. I taught my best friend how to play sequence and had a lot of fun since she almost beat me. We also tried two other new games. Such a fun place and added to our fun trip as visitors from San Francisco! Thanks!
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Kimmy L.

Yelp
I took my boyfriend here for the first time a couple of months ago. He likes board games, so I decided that this would be a good date night activity. I had been to the Bellevue location with friends before, but this was my first time at the Ballard location. We came here on a weeknight, and I was surprised at how crowded it was. We had already eaten before, so we thankfully were able to find a table that was not inside of the restaurant part of the store. Mox is definitely a unique environment; the people who work and play here can be geeky but it's all part of the experience. The store is absolutely PACKED with games; it's like a bookstore except their walls are stacked with over 1000 different board and card games to rent or buy. The workers are friendly and knowledgeable. Best of all, you can rent out games to bring back to your table for FREE. There's also no rent time limit, but they do ask you bring back the game to the front counter once you're finished playing. I asked one of the workers what games he suggested for two players, and he instantly pulled out three games and gave me a synopsis of each one. I ended up picking two card games to bring back to my table. It took us a while to figure out the rules of each game, but we definitely had a memorable time. Obviously, the games are for sale here too. The prices tend to be on the higher end, so I have not personally bought a game from them. However, they have basically every game imaginable (including strategy war games); it's a board gamer geek's heaven! I would highly recommend this place for a fun game night with friends, family, or significant others. They have food and drinks (both alcoholic and non alcoholic) so you know it's going to be a party! I'll have to come back for food and drinks next time, but overall: 5/5 for service, 5/5 for environment
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Yuchen Z.

Yelp
Mox is like....Disney World. My mouth was open the entire time I walked through Mox. As soon as you walk in, you'll be greeted with sights of Board Games upon Board Games but that's not it - it's got accessories, miniature paintings, sleeves, packs, and so much more. It's got rooms upon rooms of different things - from kid rooms to Magic rooms to large scale miniature rooms.....holy cow. I can spend hours just LOOKing at the stuff they have!!! Mox hosts a variety of events (details on their website) and they serve food!!! It's a board game store and cafe!! How can it get any better??? The one down side about them is their lending library is quite small for what kind of store they are (much better selection in their other location in Bellevue). So if you come here to play, bring your own.
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Jessica M.

Yelp
Love this place! I don't particularly enjoy the rain. Unfortunately, it was raining the entire trip and I got sick of walking around outside with the constant mist/sprinkle. Luckily, I stumbled upon this board game cafe! It's actually completely free if you just want to play some board games. There are a ton behind the counter, and you can ask their super knowledgeable staff which ones they recommend for your party. There is also a bar/kitchen attached! They serve coffee, beer, and food! Unfortunately, they didn't have fries. But this was understandable given how dirty the board games would get. We stayed here about 6 hours on a Sunday and played a variety of board games. It was a little bit of a drag having to read the rules/setup for the more complex games though. But I'm just impatient. They also sell a huge amount of board games here. If you decide to buy the one you rented, you get a 15% off discount! Super cool. The place is really big too and there were lots of tables. The bar/kitchen area isn't that big, but you can order food and take it to the retail area as well. Highly recommended!
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Keshun B.

Yelp
Great place to go for a date, food was good but take in mind it's snack food. Make sure you grab a game from the person at the desk when you walk in. They have games for different types of groups.
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Kristin M.

Yelp
What a gem to have this business in Ballard. So many board games to choose from. They check your vaccine card and you mask if you aren't drinking or in the bar area. I like that it's all ages. Perfect date spot and I want to go back to see what games I missed the first time in.

jin z.

Yelp
So the Ruben was pretty sad. Every side was extra as well. Menu unclear. Italian soda drink was meh. Saw there was a tofu banh mi on the menu.......I wouldn't trust it
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Corey R.

Yelp
I love this place I've spent a lot of time and A LOT of money here. Definitely one of the better local game stores in WA. It's one of the best magic the gathering stores since it is essentially Card Kingdoms local store front and they are one of the biggest online mtg sellers. For that reason they almost always have the cards you want instantly on demand. They are a great warhammer store too! Mox is constantly hosting gaming events. They sell tons of other board games as well and you can come with friends and borrow a game to try before you buy. There's plenty of tables to play games and you can play in the restaurant too. The restaurant is decent. The fact that the game store has a restaurant and bar and espresso is amazing. On that note however the food selection is not great, the price is kinda high, the quality is medium at best and the service is usually lacking. Definitely some room to improve on the restaurant side but still, there is a restaurant and that is awesome. In my experience there's 2 types of lgs's. One is an owner who is passionate about games but dosn't really care about doing business the other is a very corporate type store and they're great on the business front but don't really care about the games. Mox has an ok balance but definitely tilts towards the corporate side. One thing that's a little much is their "equity" nonsense that they push. From the pins, to the dice, to the rainbow merch and banners all over, it's kinda to in your face. They formed a workers union too and I think that's wack. Overall though it's a great place to come check out.